Loose Women star Denise Welch has opened up about her recent health scare, revealing she was rushed to hospital with two linked conditions just days after returning from a Caribbean holiday. The 66 year old had only just arrived back from a relaxing break when she found herself in a medical emergency, and was subsequently put on a drip in hospital.
On the show, Denise explained: “I got back from a lovely holiday in the Caribbean last Saturday. All bronze, looking forward to coming on here last week and showing off my sun tan and ‘I’m back’ and all this.
“And I got rushed into hospital on the Saturday with acute peritonitis – a perforated diverticulitis,” she revealed. “So, I’ve been in hospital on a drip for a b***** week! Excuse me. Anyway, they didn’t have to do surgery, they got it with antibiotics, thank you… As my mother said, ‘Take me to the knacker’s yard’.”
Denise’s condition, acute peritonitis, is an infection of the stomach lining, which can be triggered by a range of factors including a burst stomach ulcer or complications of diverticulitis, and can be life-threatening if left untreated.
“An infection of the lining of the abdomen is known as peritonitis. Peritonitis can be life-threatening, and requires immediate treatment with antibiotics. Surgery may also be required to drain any pus that has built up, and it may be necessary to perform a colostomy.”, reports Surrey Live.
Typical symptoms of peritonitis include persistent stomach pain, high fever, rapid heartbeat, and unusual changes to your urination patterns. Some patients also experience a loss of appetite, nausea, and a swollen stomach.
Immediate medical attention is crucial for anyone exhibiting these symptoms, as the risk of severe complications like sepsis increases if the infection spreads. NHS advice adds: “If you’re diagnosed with peritonitis, you’ll need treatment in hospital to get rid of the infection. Treatment usually involves being given antibiotics into a vein (intravenously).
“If you have regular kidney dialysis, your doctor might discuss a different way of doing it until the peritonitis has been treated….It can be difficult to digest food if you have peritonitis.
“A feeding tube might be passed into your stomach through your nose or placed inside your stomach using keyhole surgery. If a feeding tube cannot be used, liquid nutrients can be given directly into one of your veins.”
Despite being well cared for by medics, Denise revealed a particularly negative part of her hospital experience.
“I was rushed into hospital. I was alright, but I was in AandE for 24 hours,” she said.
“Now, they were looking after me and there was no bed, they kept saying, ‘There’s no bed for you’. They wanted me on the surgical ward. (They said) ‘There’s no bed, there’s no bed, there’s no bed.’ Somebody had spotted me and phoned the press – and I was in a bed in 15 minutes.”
The star also managed to find a lighter side amid her health scare, joking, “I’m eating and believe you me, what’s going on down there, I’m a loose woman – believe me!” she quipped.
